State of Mind Review | Den of Geek

Just behind superheroes, it could possibly typically seem to be cyberpunk has been pushed to its absolute restrict currently. State of Mind is a brand new graphic journey sport seeking to problem this notion, nevertheless, letting gamers unfastened inside a futuristic setting in want of saving. Its emphasis on exploration and character makes this a narrative price experiencing, even when its new concepts don’t fairly dwell as much as the tall order sci-fi veterans have come to count on.

While the fantasy of main a double life during which one can expertise the world as their excellent self may solely be a dream for a lot of, technophobic future journalist Richard Nolan finds himself within the distinctive place whereby that temptation is a possible actuality – digital or in any other case. This is only one of many profound conundrums the ill-fated protagonist of State of Mind is pressured to ponder all through this 10-12-hour journey. But to be honest to the person, he has his causes.

Taking place in another Berlin roughly 30 years into the longer term, this narrative-driven thriller opens at a time when Richard’s life is in disarray. He’s a latest sufferer of a automobile accident, his marriage is on the point of collapse, and the techno-capitalist world surrounding him is sort of actually falling aside. State of Mindmay owe quite a bit to the lofty themes explored in different celebrated works of sci-fi fiction – concepts like AI rights, transhumanism, and cloud-based utopias are all touched upon – however the place it shines is within the very human story developer Daedalic Entertainment retains in clear sight.

This giant emphasis on narrative implies that a variety of your time in State of Mind is spent exploring numerous neon-laced areas and environments, speaking to characters in a bid to be taught extra a few international conspiracy regarding the idealized digital world of “City5.” It’d be simple to match what’s right here to your commonplace Telltale launch. Yet, what might have simply boiled down to only rifling by means of drawers and opening emails to present gamers the mere impression of investigating is fortunately changed with a good mixture of appropriate goals and actions that aren’t ever as rudimentary as different video games of this ilk.

An early part in a nightclub, as an illustration, sees Richard disable a collection of drones through hacking earlier than he can meet up with a confidant. Other situations will see gamers needing to line up photograph tiles with a purpose to relive one other character’s reminiscence that’s key to advancing the story. All the duties in State of Mind exterior of the same old bout of exploration by no means outstay their welcome. The existence of a lot of the components in State of Mindmakes logical sense in such a futuristic setting. Hologram cellphone calls? Sure. Robot butlers? Of course. You get the thought!

Much might be mentioned about State of Mind’s distinctive selection of artwork type, however normally, the low-poly character fashions and pastel environments work nicely, hearkening again to the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the supplies it is paying homage to. The total stiffness does not assist the sport’s cinematic moments or motion set items, however contemplating that is from a small, impartial crew of builders whose background is basically in 2D point-and-click journey video games, it’s fairly stunning and also you’ll by no means confuse State of Mind with anything presently on the market.

Towering megastructures overhang and are appropriately intimidating, the scantily-lit wet streets of downtown Berlin are a cyberpunk aficionado’s dream, and the fittingly picturesque digital world of City5 hits all the appropriate notes of what a utopia — with a touch of seediness — ought to appear to be. Despite being small and contained, there’s a very good selection to the environments State of Mind permits you to dig round in. You’ll achieve this not solely as Richard, however quite a lot of characters who every provide up a number of views toState of Mind’s central query of “Who or what am I?”

Saying an excessive amount of about who these characters are or the situations they’re positioned in can be giving an excessive amount of away, a sin contemplating the significance of story right here. However, simply know that, as the sport continues to unfold, you’ll be experiencing it from the perspective of many, slightly than only a world-weary, grizzled journalist on a quest for the reality.

For all of State of Mind’s willingness to enterprise into advanced concepts, although, anybody who grew up on a nutritious diet of Philip Ok. Dick and William Gibson novels will seemingly see the plot’s twists and turns coming a mile off. The sport is commonly responsible of rallying themes and ideas as extra earth-shaking than they really are for anybody with a passing curiosity on this stuff. This implies that when the ultimate story revelations do finally come, they could be a little underwhelming.

Ultimately, the story State of Mind units you on is a traditional case of “it’s concerning the journey, not the vacation spot.” This might come as a disappointment to some, however when it takes place inside a world that’s as stuffed with intrigue, as well-realized, and unique-looking as this one, it’s onerous to take situation with the narrative’s shortcomings. State of Mind may fail in its final ambition to discover the deeper themes of humanity in any significant depth, nevertheless it’s one fulfilling journey of cyberpunk thriller.